Spencer Kaydenis an American actress, comedian and writer. Kayden played Little Sally in theBroadwaymusicalUrinetownand was a cast member on sketch comedy seriesMADtv.She also voiced Mrs. Pepper onBlue's Clues,[1][2]taking over the role from Penelope Jewkes after the first season.
Spencer Kayden | |
|---|---|
| Born | |
| Alma mater | Northwestern University |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, comedian, writer |
| Years active | 1996–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 1 |
Biography
editSpencer Kayden was born the only girl out of four siblings to a father who worked as a pop-up book publisher and a mother who worked as a psychotherapist. Kayden grew up in Orange County, California, and went on to study drama atNorthwestern UniversityinEvanston, Illinois.[3]She joined the Chicago cast ofToo Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind[4][5]and moved to New York in 1993 to start the New York run of the show.
Kayden received critical acclaim and notice for her performance in the musicalUrinetown,where she played Little Sally, the pig-tailed girl who helps explain the plot.[6]She played in the 1999New York International Fringe Festivalproduction, and then was in the original Off-Broadway and Broadway casts in 2001 and returned in 2003.[7]TheCurtainUpreviewer noted in reviewing the Off-Broadway production: "But while Spencer Kayden does everything right in her portrayal of the droll little girl who alternates begging for 'penny for a pee' with Shirley Temple/Charlie McCarthy exchanges with the deceptively kindly neighborhood cop, her Sally is wrong. This 'bad' idea is outrageously good for lots of laughs. The central joke works."[8]
It is from her theater performances that she was discovered byFoxexecutives and cast as a featured performer onMADtv.[citation needed]
Kayden also played the role of Mrs. Pepper in the popularNickelodeonkids seriesBlue's Cluessince 1996.
Kayden starred in the farceDon't Dress for Dinnerat the Royal George Theatre, Chicago, Illinois, from November 2008 to January 2009.[9]She reprised her role as the cook in the Broadway production, which opened in March 2012 at theAmerican Airlines Theatre.[10]
Personal life
editKayden is the sister of film directorMichael Almereyda.[3]She has been married to actorMark Hareliksince 2004, and they have one child together.[11]She has listedIrene Dunne,Peter SellersandFrances McDormandas some of her acting idols.[12]
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Drama Desk Award | Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical | Urinetown | Nominated |
| Clarence Derwent Awards | Most Promising Female Performer | Won | ||
| 2002 | Tony Award | Best Featured Actress in a Musical | Nominated | |
| Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical | Won | ||
| Theatre World Award | Won | |||
| 2012 | Tony Award | Best Featured Actress in a Play | Don't Dress for Dinner | Nominated |
| Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play | Won | ||
MADtv
editReferences
edit- ^"Spencer Kayden (visual voices guide)".Behind The Voice Actors.Retrieved7 February2022.A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: postscript (link) - ^"Spencer Kayden - Biography".IMDb.Retrieved2024-11-12.
- ^abMcKinley, Jesse."Theater; 'Urinetown' Uptown? Her Moment Has Come"The New York Times,September 2, 2001
- ^"Ensemble and Alumni"neofuturists.org, accessed April 1, 2012
- ^Bommer, Lawrence.Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind "chicagoreader.com, August 16, 1990
- ^"Spencer Kayden | Penguin Random House".PenguinRandomhouse.com.Retrieved2024-11-12.
- ^Simonson, Robertand Jones, Kenneth."Little Sally Comes Home: Spencer Kayden Returns toUrinetown,March 25 "playbill.com, March 25, 2003
- ^Sommer, Elyse."A CurtainUp Review; 'Urinetown The Musical'"CurtainUp.com, May 4, 2001
- ^Jones, Kenneth (September 18, 2008)."Don't Dress Gets Chicago Premiere With Harelik, Kayden and" Burn Notice "Star Donovan".Playbill.RetrievedFebruary 12,2022.
- ^Jones, Kenneth (March 30, 2012)."Don't Dress for Dinner, With Ben Daniels, Jennifer Tilly, Spencer Kayden, Makes Broadway Premiere".Playbill.RetrievedFebruary 12,2022.
- ^"Spencer Kayden - Biography".IMDb.Retrieved2024-11-12.
- ^Blank, Matthew (2012-05-22)."PLAYBILL.COM'S CUE & A: Don't Dress for Dinner Tony Nominee Spencer Kayden".playbill.com.Retrieved2022-02-11.